Birds. 5503 



range of some of the winged tribes. One would therefore be led to 

 consider it a turning-point for those which range to the north-east ; but 

 we could not deduce anything without observations being made in 

 Western Turkey and the Principalities. However, should these 

 scanty notes serve to clear up anything I shall be satisfied. 



The robin or redbreast (Sylvia rubecula) is most likely a resident 

 in the country, but not plentiful, or I should have observed it oftener 

 than I chanced to do. This lively little songster our minds always 

 associate with England, and I dare say that the thoughts of many a one 

 who takes little or no interest in birds, on seeing him in a distant land, 

 wander towards that island off the coast of Europe. My first meeting 

 with him was during the armistice previous to peace : it was below the 

 hermit's house, under the Monastery of St. George, on the ]5th of 

 February. 



Both the redstart (Sylvia phcenicurns) and the black redstart (Sylvia 

 tithys) inhabit the Crimea: the latter I have on the authority of Dr. 

 William Carte, he having obtained a specimen in April: I observed 

 the former as early as the 7th of March : they were in pairs by the 

 12th of April, remained during the spring, and were there at the end 

 of September. I have a note of having seen what I thought was a 

 redstart about the end of the first week in February. How could this 

 be if it is only a summer visitor to Britain ? * 



The whinchat (Sylvia rubetra) I procured during the second week 

 in May, and observed that it perched on bushes, at which time a white 

 spot on the wing-coverts was distinctly visible at a distance : I noticed 

 it till the 18th of May. Of this genus there are three more to be men- 

 tioned, two of which have not been found in Britain, the russet wheat- 

 ear (Sylvia stapazina) and pied wheatear (Sylvia leucomela): I can 

 say but little about them, having only obtained one of the former, 

 which I found among rocks and scrub brushwood, in the middle of 

 April, and the latter in the beginning of the last week of that month 



* If in the present account T ask but few direct questions, it is not because I am 

 not anxious to learn as much as possible about the habits or range of the species 

 I enumerate, for I really feel a great desire to know more than, I am afraid, I ever 

 shall on these points, as well as about other species inhabiting the locality of which I 

 am writing; and I shall therefore be most thankful to any persons who will throw out 

 hints, either in print or by letter, and I should take great pleasure in affording any 

 information in my power in answer to questions concerning anything of which I make 

 mention, for of course there are many details here omitted, such as the measurement 

 of specimens, the precise dates of all those procured, &c, which may be useful or 

 interesting to some. The simple address, as the paper is dated, will always find me, 

 in whatever part of the world I may be serving. 



